Javed Akhtar’s Love Poem

It’s not a lyric written for a Bollywood superstar to lip sync, nor is it a script for a million dollar movie, although noted poet Javed Akhtar has done plenty of both. His latest offering is straight from the heart – a love poem, a tribute to Mumbai’s children, the nameless, the homeless who live on the footpaths or survive in the slums, who have to work to get a day’s meal, to merely be able to exist. As he writes, these children come to the streets, selling multicolored balloons, plastic trinkets and newspapers – but the truth is they themselves have come to be sold.

The startling fact is that in India only 50 percent of the children in the age group of 6 to 14 years get to go to school. Too many of them are caregivers to younger brothers and sisters, wage earners for the family, carrying loads and selling treats and balloons they themselves cannot enjoy.

Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi were in New York to raise awareness for CRY America, by launching a booklet, ‘Let’s Dream a Little Dream Together.’ CRY America launched a campaign to raise awareness for children’s rights, and both adults and children sent in their poems, essays and videos on child labor, illiteracy, female infanticide and poverty. These can be seen at www.america.cry.org/myvisionforchildren

Javed Akhtar also wrote the poignant lyrics for the CRY telethon song which was composed by Aadesh Shrivastava, and performed by a band of noted singers including Abhijeet, Sonu Nigam, Hariharan, Shaan, Alka Yagnik, Babul Supriyo, Sneha Ghoshal, Vijayta Pandit, Saapna Mukherjee, Udit Narayan and Shraddha Pandit. It also featured Aadesh Shrivastava’s sons Avitesh and Anivesh, Alka Yagnik’s daughter Sayesha, Abhijeet’s son Jai and Shaan’s son Soham.

Indeed, if there is awareness, that’s half the battle won. Shefali Sunderlal, President, CRY America, says: “No matter how difficult or long the journey, if each one of us believes in doing what’s right, then all children will have their right to live, learn, grow, play.”

Mumbai Tere Bachche

By Javed Akhtar

Mumbai

Teri footpath par

Anginat kaam karte ye bachche

Raat aor din paseena bahaate huay

Daudte Bhaagte

Thehrete  haanpte

Phir bhi hanste huay

Muskuraate huay

Mumbai Teri footpath par

Rangeen Ghubbaare ya plastic ki Ghadi

Filmi akhbaar ya Race ki chopdi

Kanghiyaan kaali aor laal chhoti badi

Bachche kehne ko saamaan ye laaye hain

Sach to ye hai ki khud bikne ko aaye hain

Mumbai Teri footpath par

Bachche gaadi ke sheeshon ko dhote huay

Bachche saamaan logon ka dhote huay

Bachche pathreele raston mein palte huay

Bachche apne hi Pairon pe chalte huay

Haath jin mein ki Kaaghaz Qalam hone thay

Un mein kuchh Zakhm hain aor kuchh bhi naheen

Itni si Umr mein

Kitne dukh hain sametay huay in ke dil

Mumbai tere bachchey hain ye

Pyaar se in se mil

Mumbai

Teri footpath par

Anginat kaam karte

Ye bachche.

Mumbai, Your children

Mumbai, on your streets

Countless children toil away

Sweating it out

Day and Night

Running and panting around

But still smiling and laughing

Mumbai, on your streets

Vending colorful balloons or plastic trinkets

Movie Magazines or Racing books

Large and small combs, red and black

For the record the kids are selling their wares

In fact they come selling themselves

Mumbai, on your streets

Kids wiping windshields and windows

Children growing up amidst disheveled sidewalks

Kids walking by themselves

Kids whose hands should have pen and paper

Have nothing else but sores

At such a tender age their hearts have engulfed so much grief

Mumbai, these are your kids

Embrace them with love

Mumbai, on your streets

Countless children toil away